The association of hemifacial spasm and facial pain

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1989 May;52(5):663-5. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.52.5.663.

Abstract

The recognition of an association between trigeminal neuralgia and ipsilateral hemifacial spasm has been delayed by confusion over the nomenclature of the two conditions. Three patients are presented who had facial pain associated with hemifacial spasm. The findings on investigation of these patients, and an analysis of the literature, suggests that the combination is almost inevitably associated with pathological processes in the posterior fossa, particularly anomalous, ectatic or aneurysmal blood vessels.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Facial Muscles*
  • Facial Pain / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Spasm / complications*
  • Spasm / physiopathology
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / complications*